Governance
VB-GRAM G Scheme — Viksit Bharat Rural Employment Mission
Launched in July 2026 from Mukkavarippalli village, Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and AP CM N. Chandrababu Naidu. Full name: Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Yojana. Financial outlay: Rs 7.5 lakh crore over 5 years; Centre contributes Rs 95,692.31 crore; States contribute 40%. Four components: AIBP, HKKP, WDC, and PDMC.
Agriculture
PMKSY — 10 Years of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana
Approved 1 July 2015 by CCEA (PM Modi) with original outlay of Rs 50,000 crore for 5 years. Extended in December 2021 for 2021–26 with revised outlay of Rs 93,068.56 crore. Benefited over 27 million farmers; created/restored irrigation across 24.61 million hectares. Objective: “Har Khet Ko Pani, More Crop Per Drop.”
Environment
Borjuli — Assam’s New Biodiversity Heritage Site
Borjuli (Sonitpur district, Assam) notified as a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS) by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) under Section 37, Biological Diversity Act 2002. Conserves Wild Rice (Oryza rufipogon). Assam now has 3 BHS: Majuli BHS, Borjuli Wild Rice BHS, and Hajong Tortoise Lake BHS.
Technology
India’s First PinS Instrument Approach Procedure — Undavalli Heliport
Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) approved India’s first Private Point-in-Space (PinS) Instrument Approach Procedure at Undavalli Heliport, Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh. Developed by AAI, approved by DGCA. Based on Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) using GNSS + India’s GAGAN system — enables helicopter operations without ground-based radar or ILS.
Infrastructure
CCEA-Approved Highway Projects — July 2026
CCEA approved two highway projects worth Rs 14,114.81 crore. Project 1: 117.7 km four-lane greenfield highway between Kanpur and Kabrai (Mahoba, UP) on NH-34. Project 2: Rs 6,969.67 crore six-lane tunnel in Delhi on NH-148AE, including a 3.14 km twin-tube tunnel. Both projects chaired by PM Narendra Modi.
Defence
India’s First Indigenous Tactical Aerostat — IIT Delhi & DRDO
Developed by IIT Delhi in partnership with DRDO and a domestic startup (July 2026). A low-cost, high-altitude balloon-based platform with 20 km operational coverage. Equipped with EO cameras, IR sensors, and communication relay systems. Uses: border surveillance, defence, disaster response, and civilian connectivity.
Education
ADB Loan to Karnataka — Strengthening Public Schools
ADB approved a USD 182.89 million (Japanese Yen equivalent) loan to Karnataka under the ‘Strengthening Karnataka Public Schools Program.’ Will establish 500 integrated school clusters benefiting over 1 million students (pre-primary to secondary). Additional support: USD 10 million grant + USD 25 million guarantee from IFFEd (International Finance Facility for Education).
Defence
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit — 51st VCAS of IAF
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit (former CISC) assumed charge as 51st Vice Chief of Air Staff (VCAS) of the Indian Air Force on 1 July 2026, succeeding Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor (retired 30 June 2026). Awards: PVSM (2026), AVSM (2023), VM (2006), VSM (2011).
Business & Economy
BPCL Acquires 100% Stake in IBV Brazil Petroleo
BPCL, through overseas arm BPRL Ventures BV, acquired the remaining 34.6% stake of VEBL in IBV Brazil Petroleo Limitada for Rs 2,312 crore — raising BPCL’s total stake from 65.40% to 100%. Expected to add ~1 MTOE to annual equity production once output begins from the BM-SEAL-11 block, Brazil.
Culture
West Bengal’s GI Tags — 59 Total (June 2026)
West Bengal added 23 new GI tags in June 2026, taking its total to 59 — 3rd highest in India after Uttar Pradesh (83) and Tamil Nadu (76). Notable new GI products: Jolbhora Sandesh (from Chandannagar, Hooghly district), Santiniketan Batik, Santiniketan Ektara, Kanakchur popped rice, Clay Doll of Krishnanagar, Sitalpati, and Murshidabad silk.